The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-12-23
ALBANY AND LINN COUNTY


It's selection by the Oregon Pacific as its
point OF junction with the Oregon & Call.
fornia, and the site for large round houses,
which are In construction, has drawn much
attention TO Its advantages ~ business
point. This distinction has not fallen up
on Albany unearned, but Il the result OF
the enterprising spirit Of It's citizens, who
subscribed literally to induce the Oregon
Pacific to bridge the Willamette II that
point and make the city Its chief center Of
traffic on the east side Of the river. This
same spirit of enterprise ls shown IN other
directions, and is bearing iruitln the pres.
perity and rapid grewth Of the communlsy.
The Oregon Pacific ls now being operated1
fifteen miles east Of Albany, and u under
contract for construction beyond the sum-
NIT Of the Cascades. Another year viii
see II "a far east a. Snake river,and before
q second shall roll around. II will meet. 81
Boise City, another road from the East
making one more iranscontiHental route.
Albany viii then be the place where
freight and passengers by this new line
viii connect with lines reaching points
both north and south, and will of necessity,
become OF great Importance In the trans
portation system of the coast. The city
now has population Of three thousand,
which win, BY the tlme the read is com.
pleted, have Increased fully twenty
per cent.
Albany IL well built up with substantial
business structures, and many neat, and
even handsome, residences. The county
buildings are brick structures, and coat
about $so.ooo. Business In all its branches
Is well represented and is increasing year.
ly In volume. One Of the beat water pow
ers in the West, tho San.iam river, sup
plies an abundance Of power ior manuiae-
turing, which Is already utilized by mum
Der Of industries, chief among which IL the
large Red Crown Afiils Of Isom, LannIng
& Co. a complete Keller mill, manufaetur.
Ing standard shipping brands OF -four. As
a manufacturing point, Albany possesses
many advantages oflocation, because Of Its
situation at the junction Of two great rail.
road lines. II will have direct outlet by
rail to Eastern Oregon and beyond. TO all
points south and north, and to the two
ocean shipping perts Sf Yaqnlna and Port.
land. Within easy reach are vast forests
Of hr and cedar, and groves Of alder, oak.
maple and cottonwood. Thousands Of
sheep are At hand TO supply wool Of the
finest grade, while cereal, fruit and vegeta-
bic products ars obtainabie In nnlIrnIsed
quantities. From the very nature Of Things,
Albany mus, become an important manu-
featuring and business community.
On pages Bop and sio arc presented en-
cravings Of several of the hnsine.s $40
public structures of the city ,lncludlng the
school house and new bank building
These arc evidences Of business prosperity
and enlightened enterprise, which speak
volumes for the city and Iss people.
A glance St the surrounding and tribu.
tary country will give = good idea Of the
city's position. Much Of the region west
Of the Willamette Is directly tributary to
the city, by boat, rail and wagon but its
leading territory is the county of Linn one
Of the largest most prosperous and popu.
ious In the state.
Linn county extends from the William.
cite river 10 the summit Of the Cascade
mountains, and lies between Marion and
Lane counties on the north and south,
having Benton for its neIghbor west Of the
river. In its area Of about twenty-four
hundred square miles,It embraces bottem
lands, high prairies, foothills and noun
tains, having the most extensive praIrIes
In the Willamette valley. The best agri.
cultural part of the county Is q strip, or
belt,bordering on the Willamette river,an
open, fertile prairie region, thIckly settled
with thrifty farmers. This belt Is from
twelve to twenty-five miles wide, and is one
of the finest wheat and oat growing re.
gions In the state. East Of this is a bel
from ten TO twenty miles wide, which 4
hilly and undulated, diversified with small
valleys, In which are many quiet, pleasan
hemes. The uncultivated lands are, fol
the most part, covered with brush ans
timber, such as oak, fir, ash and maple
The next belt, comprising the remainde
Of the county, and extending to the sum
nit of the Cascade mountains, Is noun
famous region, almost wholly unsettled
and, in fact,generaiiy unfit for settlement
It's covered with large forests of fin
timber, which, In time, will become ex
tremely valuable. The entire county |
finely watered by large streams, of whicl
the principal ones are the Willamette riy
er, North Santiam and South Santian
Besides these, there are are numerou
small streams, all rising In the cascad
mountains, and emptying into the WI
lamette or Its tributaries. The water
these streams Is clear and pure, and furr
ishes abundant water power for manufa'
turing purposes. The Oregon s. califorr
Ia R. r. enters Linn county on the nortl
about six miles east of the Willameti
river, and runs about ten miles southwe
to Albany and thence south and southwe
about thirty two miles to Harrisburg,
mile above which point 1t crosses the Wi
Iamette,and passes on south through Ian
county. There Is branch road from A
bany east to Lebanon,a distance Of fiftee
miles, where 1t connects with the Narro
Gauge road running west of,and parall'
IN fhe Oreoors q (saIifornie srhn Nreon